If you are a property owner, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, it is almost inevitable that your property will be vacant for a period of time at some point.
For owners of office space and other business properties, the impact of Covid-19 has made this all the more common.
Unfortunately, vacant properties are magnets for theft, vandalism, and other criminal activity so it is essential that you know how to keep your property as secure as possible at this time.
In this guide, we will look at 6 of the best things that you can do to protect a vacant property based on the real-life experiences of experts within the security industry.
1. Board up all windows and doors
The term ‘boarding up’ refers to the traditional security measure of using plywood or OSB board sheets to protect windows and doors from intruders.
However, in recent times steel has become a much more popular choice for those serious about vacant property security as wood is far easier to remove and break through.
Installing steel screens over your windows and doors is a fantastic way to keep a property that is expected to be unoccupied for a prolonged period protected against theft and vandalism.
Steel is non-combustible, almost impenetrable, and will deter opportunistic criminals from even attempting to target your property.
To allow access to authorised individuals if required, steel doors will be fitted with deadlocks that are immune to lock-picking attempts.
2. Install concrete barriers
For vacant properties in rural locations or with significant areas of land attached, fly-tipping is a constant concern.
Fly-tipping is not only costly to deal with but can also be dangerous to those nearby should the abandoned materials be hazardous or combustible.
Installing concrete barriers around the entranceways to your vacant property will prevent unauthorised vehicles from gaining access and force those intent on illegally dumping waste to look elsewhere.
Another benefit of such a measure, that could save you from getting stuck in an expensive and time-consuming legal battle, is that it will also prevent illegal traveller encampments from springing up overnight.
3. Install perimeter fencing
Concrete barriers will help to prevent vehicular access to your site, but to prevent intruders altogether, perimeter fencing should be installed around the boundary.
This will be your first defence against any intruders, so it is vital you choose a fence made from high-quality materials and installed by a company that knows what they are doing.
Once installed, you or your security staff should conduct regular examinations of the entire perimeter throughout the vacant period to keep an eye out for any breaches or storm damage.
4. CCTV
CCTV is an integral part of any security system, with the level of CCTV service chosen varying according to budget and level of threat.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, CCTV cameras can now be controlled and accessed remotely from anywhere in the world via your mobile phone or similar smart device.
This is ideal if you plan on leaving your property for an extended period but want to be able to keep an eye on goings-on from afar.
CCTV systems help to guard against crime at all stages, from deterring potential criminals from targeting your property in the first place to helping the police to identify and find the culprit should they escape.
For maximum security, it is recommended that you opt for a monitored CCTV system managed by a professional security firm.
This allows for a real-time response to any incidents identified on CCTV and will ensure the police are notified the instant an unauthorised individual enters your site.
5. Change the locks
Often, if you are the owner or manager of a commercial property, your site will be left vacant whilst you search for a new tenant.
If those who are allowed access to your property change on a regular basis, it can be hard to keep track of exactly who has a set of keys.
Leaving this to chance simply isn’t worth the risk so you should change all the locks on your property as soon as possible once it becomes vacant.
6. Install signs
One of the cheapest, fastest, yet most effective measures you can take against would-be intruders is installing signage that alerts people approaching to the security measures you have in place.
A sign stating ‘CCTV in operation’ for example, even if you don’t actually have CCTV cameras in place, will convince many potential opportunistic criminals to steer clear, adding an extra level of deterrence to active security measures such as CCTV and manned guarding.
Conclusion
No two vacant properties are the same and only a full security assessment conducted by a security professional will be able to identify exactly what measures will be most effective for your property.
For more information on vacant property security, contact us today and our security experts will be delighted to help.